It’s been a while since I’ve talked about Children’s Ministry on my blog--actually, I might not have written about it on this blog at all, but I will write about it today.  This morning at church I was encouraged and grateful for a whole message surrounding building momentum for VBS.  While my thoughts are scattered around the idea of VBS (like--how did our culture begin doing this...why do we call it “school”...what are we teaching about discipleship and how are we accurately connecting what happens there with what happens throughout the year...), I am so grateful to be a part of a church community that values kids. 

A few years back I went to lunch with a couple who was interested in serving in kids ministry at the church I worked at.  They had previously held leadership positions in children's ministry and had been hurt.  Instead of instinctively diving into serving, they wanted to talk to me about the vision and direction of the ministry in relation to what the church as a whole.  They asked me pointed questions about my relationship with the leaders, “do they listen to you?”, “do they respect your vision?”, “when planning things for the church, do they bring you in and think about kids and families?”.  My answers to those questions varied, and I think throughout my process working there and then once leaving, I was able to know those answers clearly.  One thing they said that has always stuck with me was this:  “you can tell how much a church values and respects their children’s ministry and families by how much the pastor teaches about it from the front”.  In my heart I knew that was true.  I value being in a place where kids and families are respected as equal, if not more important, members of the church community.

That being said, I was reminded of my mixed thoughts on traditional children's ministry.  During my time this morning with the first graders I was thinking my typical Katie thoughts, “what is this teaching them about God?”, “what messages are we sending to these kids by doing X, Y and Z.”  I watched as a leader started to pray this morning and asked all the kids to fold their hands and close their eyes.  I listened as we tried to get the kids to memorize a verse, yet failed to explain clearly what it meant. 

Yet I also watched the kids laughing, building relationships with one another and with adults.  I watch modeling of good behavior and smiles and laughs and four square and snacks being eaten.  I am grateful that kids are learning ALL the time and that God still uses us--even when we try to simplify spirituality into a 3 minute skit.  Even when we use words that kids don’t know as we attempt to explain God’s truths.  Even when we sing a song about how God is superman.  Even when we tell them that if we are good, we will always be blessed (might be true if we look at the bigger idea of what blessing can be, but I'm pretty sure a kid might not understand that principle when they look at it from their perspective).

Needless to say, I miss teaching.  I love kids.  I value being a part of a community that respects them.